Race Driver: Grid is a racing game developed and published by Codemasters for the Xbox 360 , Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo DS. It was announced on April 19, 2007, and is available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and PC. The game was released on May 30, 2008, in Europe, on June 3, 2008, in North America, and on June 12, 2008, in Australia. The game is apart of the TOCA/Race Driver series.

Contents

Gameplay

This game was made by Codemasters, the creators of the TOCA/Race Driver series. Race Driver: GRID is an arcade / tarmac racing simulator consisting of 43 cars. The game features an Instant Replay feature which allows the player to rewind time by up to 10 seconds as many times as the player wants to. There is also a Flashback feature, which can only be used for a limited number of times of which is determined by the difficulty setting.

There are several modes of competition using various cars, including: GT races, open wheel races, demolition derbies, etc. There are also several tracks derived from different countries, including Japan, United States and European tracks such as Le Mans and Spa Francorchamps. A track derived from the streets of Milan is also available.

Portable version

Firebrand Games, the developers of Race Driver: Create and Race, developed the game for the Nintendo DS. The game has 20 circuits available, along with 25 cars. The game also included an updated version of the Track Designer from Race Driver: Create and Race, which allows players to create their own custom circuits and roadside billboards. The portable version was launched in early August of 2008.

Downloadable content

On December 4 2008, the '8-Ball Pack' was released on the Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Network for 800 points and £6.79, respectively. The pack contains 8 new cars.

Game Engine

Race Driver: GRID uses Codemasters' own Ego engine, an updated version of the Neon engine already being used in their previous release Colin McRae: DiRT. The damage code has been completely rewritten to allow for environments with the potential for persistent damage.

Reception

Aggregate scores

Aggregator

Score

Metacritic

87% (Windows)87% (Xbox 360)87% (PS3)79% (Nintendo DS)

Review scores

Publication

Score

1UP.com

B (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)C- (Nintendo DS)

Edge

9/10

GamePro

4/5

GameSpot

8/10 (Xbox 360, PS3)8.5/10 (Nintendo DS)

GameSpy

4/5

IGN

8.7/10 (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)8.3/10 (Nintendo DS)

The game has received almost universally positive praise from critics.

Official Xbox Magazine awarded Race Driver: Grid a 9.0 out of 10, proclaiming, "This game isn’t about simulating racing; it’s about creating fun out of it. And it succeeds beautifully, one thrilling white knuckle at a time," with the only negative point being its relatively meager online offering.

X-Play has given Grid a 5 out of 5, stating, "the Flashback feature is superb" and claiming "the damage is excellent".

Game Revolution gave Race Driver: Grid a B, calling the damage "fantastic" and calling the Flashback feature "a lifesaver".

IGN.com gave the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 versions of the game 8.7/10. A score of 8.3/10 was awarded to the Nintendo DS release.

Official UK PlayStation Magazine, VideoGamer.com, Edge and Eurogamer all gave Grid a score of 9/10.

N-Europe gave the DS version an 8/10.

PC Format gave Race Driver: Grid a score of 90%.

GameSpot gave the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game 8/10, and the DS version 8.5/10.

Game Informer gave Race Driver: Grid a score of 9/10, with a second opinion score of 9.25/10.

PC Gamer UK gave Race Driver: Grid a score of 88%, saying that the racer was made of style and substance.

North American publication Nintendo Power gave the Nintendo DS version a score of 8.5 out of 10. Praise was heaped on the game's robust car and course customization features, superb graphics (by DS standards), and multiplayer modes.